Becoming a Foster Parent

By becoming a foster parent with Kaleidoscope, you’ll do more than foster a child in need. With unique support and resources from our team of experts, you’ll provide the care, patience and guidance that every child deserves.

Kaleidoscope is always in need of foster parents who are passionate about caring for the children and youth we help – all of whom require more intensive services as a result of specialized mental health, behavioral, medical or pregnancy/parenting needs.

In Illinois, there are nearly 200 children and youth waiting for foster placement at any given time.

Our foster parents represent some of the very best in our community, and we’re proud to work alongside them. You don’t need to be a “perfect” parent to become a foster parent. What do you need? Our foster parents speak from their experience.

Kaleidoscope’s Unique Support to Help You Foster a Child

With the support of our team, our committed foster parents have opened their homes to some of the most vulnerable, high-need children in Chicago. Foster parents offer the safe, supportive and caring homes that all children deserve. Our staff are known for going above and beyond state standards to provide excellent, ongoing training and 24/7 support for our foster parents, ensuring that they are equipped to provide the care these young people need.

Once a child is placed, we work closely with the foster family through ongoing case management. We track the child’s progress, manage referrals for outside services and check in with the family regularly to assess any additional needs to support you in fostering a child. Our staff takes on the bulk of the administrative work so that foster parents can focus on the day-to-day nurturing that children and youth need.

From the start, children and young people who are referred to Kaleidoscope are assigned a team of experts to assess their needs and determine the best individualized care. Our social workers, counselors and others professionals provide the ongoing services kids and their foster families need to succeed, including specialized medical care, mental health therapy and more. Each of these services is referred through and arranged by Kaleidoscope, so foster parents don’t have to make special requests or appointments for their kids.

Become a Foster Parent in Chicago

Kaleidoscope welcomes committed and responsible individuals or couples who are over the age of 25 who feel the calling to become a foster parent. New foster parents are invited to attend our Foster Parent Orientation to learn more specific information on becoming a foster parent.

Upon submission of the application, prospective foster parents will be invited to participate in an in-home interview with our staff. All approved applicants then attend Foster Parent Basic Training and will complete a home study licensing packet. Foster parents are required to maintain licensing standards as outlined by DCFS, and several home visits will be required for approval and maintenance of the license.

Kaleidoscope’s philosophy for becoming a foster parent is simple: If you’re able to open your home to Chicago children and youth, we’d like to talk to you. If you’re curious about how to become foster parent, contact us to learn more. At our orientation session, you’ll meet others and learn in detail about how to apply to become a foster parent in Chicago, Illinois and what it takes to foster a child.

You can provide a loving foster home for some of Chicago’s most vulnerable children. Attend an upcoming orientation to get started.